A retired Barbadian civil servant recently had the temerity to publicly say what every honest West Indian knows but dare not say: that further efforts at deeper or closer integration of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) are a waste of time and resources.

We, of course, do not agree with his view that the best course of action is every country for itself. We still cling to the belief that regional cooperation can still be beneficial to Caricom.

But we must admit that elements of the diagnoses of the paltry state of regional integration have some merit. For example, the analysis which concludes that economic integration among small developing economies cannot realise economies of scale to make production internationally competitive. Nor can a single market among very small economies attain a size sufficient to prompt new industries.

The much-vaunted production integration schemes of the academic grandfathers who adapted the European integration model have not materialised nor has there been regional specialisation.

Regional economic integration has failed to transform the plantation era mono-crop economies of Caricom, which are based on primary products and low value-added services. Except, of course, for the energy-based manufacturing in Trinidad and Tobago, and that, due largely to nature’s bounty.

After 40-plus years of economic integration, the region is no less externally dependent, is still economically undiversified and is one of the most indebted in the world. There is no regional capital market judging by the enormous differences in interest rates, even if it is true that Jamaicans can now eat Trinidadian biscuits and Barbadians can sip Jamaican rum.

Another popular school of thought argues that economic integration has failed because there is no political will among the political leadership. Further, the overstaffed bureaucracy of the Caricom Secretariat lacks leadership and technical expertise and depends on subventions from external donors who now suffer from donor fatigue.

Again we disagree. The region does have some quality political leadership. The manifest lack of political will is only a reflection of the absence of a genuine spirit of community among the people of the Caricom countries. Petty nationalism has undermined the realisation of integration.

The illusion and futile quest for real sovereignty in micro states destroyed the WI Federation and prevents the achievement of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. The surviving institutional arrangements of regional cooperation, such as the University of the West Indies have been “Balkanised” by nationalism bordering on xenophobia.

Integration is in reverse when there is no freedom of movement of persons in the region, although it existed in the colonial era when none of us had our own flag and passport. The real problem is that the scourge of nationalism has triumphed over the possibilities and opportunities of regionalism. Ironically, Caricom has completed the easy aspects of regionalism, but like the European Union, its progenitor, Caricom cannot press on to the more difficult but fundamental aspects because of nationalism.

The peoples of Europe embarked on a draft European Union constitution in 2002, rejected the idea in 2005 and settled on a pale imitation, the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The peoples of Caricom embarked on the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973 and now Guyanese are being deported from Barbados.

What’s next, deporting Sparrow from Grenada?